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THE UNSUSTAINABILITY OF SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
By Name
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Introduction
The building and construction sector results in almost 30-40% of the worldwide last power
application and the release of power-related carbon (iv) dioxide (CO2). Buildings may play a
major role in the reduction of the effects it has on the surrounding, hence aiding in the reduction
of climate variation impacts. Planning and drawing power-green structures that are biddable with
sustainable pattern rules and green structures codes (GSCs) can be a helpful move to solving
such problems1.
Considering the growth in the common desires and concerns about factors concerning the
environment, the need to control pollution and power use, and the diversion to the consumption
of different energy types, a bigger range of types for rating buildings plus levels of green
buildings have been advanced to current times around the world. The techniques show several
morals and priorities made by the community so that they can scrutinize and evaluate the effects
of the planned and available environmental forecast.
Opposed to the backdrop of a growth in eco-conscious inhabitants- not to discuss media -
promoted paranoia over global warming where there is a bigger consensus along the architectural
profession that the heavenly increase in the use of the term ''sustainability'' is unsustainable.
Sometimes this word was important and in vogue, but it first emerged as an overused word. This
term is all-encompassed and is associated with all aspects of architecture like social, economic,
and environmental whose effects have been diluted above recognition2. The opening statement in
the introduction of Paidon’s extensive Vitamin Green succinctly adds up the issue: ''What is
1
Capeluto, Isaac Guedi. "The Unsustainable Direction of Green Building Codes: A Critical Look at the Future of
Green Architecture."
2
Farhan, Sabeeh Lafta, Ihsan Abbass Jasim Hashim, and Ahmed Adel Naji. "The sustainable house: Comparative
analysis of houses in Al Kut Neighborhoods-Iraq."
3
sustainable design? It's a belief that is everywhere but non-seems to know what exactly it
means."
Due to the misuse of the terminology, the use of sustainability is no longer useful when
discussing better developments. Several people think that when a building is composed of well-
developed eco-energetic tools it should be considered sustainable, even if it remains in an
unendurable urban condition; however much such technological advancement is produced about
2999.5 kilometers from the building area; and also, life development evaluation of the
requirements used does not conform to the global environmental standards3.
Unsustainability of Sustainable Architecture
European society increases the use of photovoltaic devices, and solar panels on constructed
buildings, and even on already cultivated land. Since then, no country has had a well-elaborated
plan for the storing and disposal of solar panels once there is a need to replace them, this results
in leaving a bad history to the next generation without producing enough energy. The industrial
material lobbyists are responsible for the subsidies and the ecological rules. We should consider
whether these policies are sustainable or not.
Recently, there have been several inappropriate projects for skyscrapers which comprised an
unsustainable and energy-starved house receiving different awards and prizes as sustainable
projects. Furthermore, the architectural magazines which are facilitated by the construction
industry contain strange projects presented as sustainable and green4. The main aim of all this is
to confuse the general public rather than make sustainable places real for living.
3
De Gregorio, Stefania, Giulia Di Domenico, and Pierluigi De Berardinis. "Sustainable Architecture in Developing
Countries: Harvest Map of the Lusaka Territory, Zambia."
4
Grover, Robert, Stephen Emmitt, and Alex Copping. "Critical learning for sustainable architecture: Opportunities
for design studio pedagogy."
4
One of the strongest views of numerous architects, mostly the star architects believe that if their
renderings on the desktop screen display a vertical meadow' or a vertical forest’ (similar to those
celebrated skyscrapers found in Milan whose trees have dried up) on their houses then plants do
not need roots. What makes nature to be so insensitive to stop certain projects from working? In
case trees and grass die, we should not blame the architects rather it is nature that does not
support the climate/ atmosphere.
Case illustration
The initial design idea and aims of Sydney Olympics Games was to turn out to be Green Games.
Environmental considerations were integrated into the bid process which were later developed
into design and construction environmental guidelines. The opportunity to generate Green
Games in this project was not properly grasped even though there were certain achievements
including water and energy conservation5.
Integration of sustainability in the erratic architectural, social and economic norms marked the
Sydney Olympics hallmark approach to Ecologically Sustainable Design, ESD. ESD was
integrated into the project in such a manner it turned out too marginal in the procurement
process. As such the bigger picture either completely ignored or made just limited attempts
towards ESD, while further at the bottom every contractor became answerable to the stipulated
environmental guidelines.
The Hargreaves Master Plan that was generated of the project was extensively praised by critics
of the architecture to be an aesthetically appealing solution unifying all the other bigger
elements. The aesthetic unity nevertheless was linked with enormous environmental costs
5
Vosloo, Christo. "Early sustainable architecture in hanging skyscrapers–A comparison of two financial office
buildings."
5
including energy and material inputs into what was deemed as the largest paving task in
Australia. The Concept Master Plan was taken through some retrofitting strategies for mitigation
of some of the challenges6. Among the strategies including an increase in the number of fig trees
along the street of Boulevard and introduction of porous paving about the plantings for reduction
of run-off besides eliminating the need for irrigation. Making major changes was however
impossible as the same would result in loss of the Master Plan’s integrity for the uncluttered
open space.
Over the twentieth century, construction ways in more developed continents became increasingly
monitored and the way in the 1990s, after the Rio Earth Meeting. The ecologically sustainable
advancements got summed onto other planning necessities. These include the lesser power
efficiency performance needs, storm water is maintained and prevented from entering the site in
new improvements to reduce effects on the natural water, and the management of waste products
and many plans of several types of checklists concerning power, water, tools, land and building
issues to be finalized as part of preparing positive developments7.
Mostly there if fewer architects who have a wider standing involvement in various sustainable
types and they always work towards being rich. They mostly work for wealthy employers on
projects such as building houses in high-quality natural environments which later get captured in
the daily magazines and later receive prizes8. The joint force from the enforcement officers and
guidelines for more than one decade within the architecture industry, also the increased public
interest in environmental humiliation has explained that several things are constructed today to
be sustainable.
6
Salihoğlu, Turgay. "Importance of porch in Mediterranean architecture."
7
Eili, Jahangir. "The Importance Of Sustainable Development With Ecological Design And Architecture."
8
Speedie, Claire, and Mark Mulville. "Educational Buildings as Educational Buildings: Can sustainable architecture
help support sustainability in the curriculum?
6
There are many ways to depict what is sustainable architecture. Or sustainable properties are
evolving into mainstream architecture, in line with fewer projects claiming to be sustainable in
their totality. Sustainability mSostly occurs at the magnitude of connotation as signs and displays
connected to various particulars. Rainwater storage tanks, untreated timbers, windmills, and
small artificial wetlands indicate sustainability mostly in the competition of construction and
display to employers9.
On the other hand, there are several new less effective technological advancements and design
means that cannot be seen and are unable to show themselves as sustainable and thus not calling
for any attention. This is mostly the case in several works of engineers that are deeply in
achieving positive benefits in power reduction and good use of water. Today the ESD program
has resulted in improvement in environmental operations to the architectural and construction
status quo. The failure of commitment is the major reason why we are not seeing a positive
change. The sustainability motions are not being taken with adequate seriousness by several
educated members either at the levels where they practice the policies and regulations.
An analogy has been developed among the willingness of businesses and the state to use billions
of dollars to secure against the Y2K and not being local when the threat declines to eventuate, in
comparison to the undesired of similar decision enactors to invest in controls to insure over the
spectra of worldwide warming and several other upcoming environmental problems10.
Sustainability always gets into the picture as a predicted agenda which mostly determines and
undermines it.
Aesthetic limiting sustainability
9
Røstvik, Harald N. "Sustainable Architecture—What’s Next?."
10
Sharma, Anuj Kumar, and Megha Yadav. "Sustainability in Architecture: Dynamic Buildings,“The Future of
India”
7
Aestheticized models of the physical surrounding are mostly the inspiration for greenhouses.
Hence the exposed necked timber of an ecotourism visitors' market can also be the bigger story
office block composed of a filled atrium. Within themselves, such treatments are not issued but
only when the sustainability of what is constructed begins and ends with such particulars. Some
few declare certain cultural beliefs and practices as structurally unsustainable or can reject jobs
on this claim11.
The contradictions never depict the numerous volumes of greenhouse gas emissions that are
produced by the flying tourists into the local places where they mostly positively recommend
wild nature, their very moves, and motives resulting in the death of the animals they always
admire. It is always considered engineers that the major activities done in the natural
environment are always directed towards the enlargement of unsustainable used-based society.
Engineers always dwell on the natural factors which refers to the sustainability of the cultural
and social gets contact. Comparing sustainability with natural settings is only a single instance of
a much bigger pressure that stands in the mode of architecture becoming a path for promoting
sustainability. This is always the belief that architectural engineers are primarily an aesthetic
means by which all factors have been considered.
This is where we always meet the cultivated recoil from several technological advancements.
The rainwater storage tank and the hot water from the solar panels would spoil and brake the
clean linear aesthetic were fighting to achieve. This makes an absolute involvement in a single
building and requests the engineers to do what they can to make it power efficient. Sustainability
is something to be dealt with by nondestructive technological advancements12.
11
Armstrong, Rachel. "Towards the microbial home: An overview of developments in next‐generation sustainable
architecture."
12
Eili, Jahangir. "The Importance Of Sustainable Development With Ecological Design And Architecture."
8
When these issues and regulations such as reducing materials similar to making for completion
of life requirements recovery invaders as provoking mundane guidelines. Such needs are
considered as disadvantages. The final thing you need to consider is the completion of
constructing life when you've spent so much thinking coming up with a different building that
will bring a unique statement in its place. Mostly monumentalism is a simple target identified
here to make a point, which is also at its low-key, secured, and minimal appearances that the
aesthetic predisposition will be just as attractive and dismissive concerning sustainability.
The illustrations presented by Vitamin Green depict exemplary ranges of typologies, scales,
geographic locations as well as climatic conditions. A Forest for a Moon Dazzler, an
aesthetically appealing pragmatic structure, noted at the end of the list as designed by Benjamin
Garcia Saxe is a typical illustration of how aesthetics can be integrated to merge with
sustainability. The sketches presented by the architect depict a comprehensively and carefully
considered approaches to water management, passive shading.
In as much as the material pallet which is mainly bamboo and the method of construction tends
to be low technology, the resultant residence is dominated with sustainable details13. Whole these
concepts have been researched upon by numerous architects across the globe, the Moon Dazzler
residence demonstrates how stylish aesthetics should be not being disregarded in spite of
sustainable requirements and fixed budget construction14.
13
Cucuzzella, Carmela. "Sustainable architecture as facticity, perception, and potential."
14
Omopariola, Emmanuel Dele, Oludolapo Ibrahim Olanrewaju, Idowu Albert, Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke, and
Sunday Bankayode Ibiyemi. "Sustainable construction in the Nigerian construction industry: unsustainable
practices, barriers and strategies."
9
Shortage of material resources and exploitation
The construction industry is one sector noted to be a large consumer of material and energy
resources with the demand for these resources ever on the rise with the increase in human
population. In the USA for instance, the amount of material and energy resources consumed only
declines in case of a crisis15. The impacts of globalization further acts to aid in accelerating the
rate of depletion of resources. In the last two decades, the global market has expanded to the tune
of thrice even as the population has grown by more than 30% within the same period. The levels
of carbon dioxide have risen by more than 30% during the industrial revolution era and such
depict the highest levels for the last 160 millennia.
Economic activities do not in any way aid sustainability as the market model enhanced
individualism as opposed to collective values alongside equitable distribution. Globalization is
due to countries having less in their ecological footprint and require more cultivated earth from
the other nations for meeting their need16s. Such resources are extracted, processed and
15
Tamur, Zhindar Hussein. "The Effect of Incorporating Features of Sustainable Architecture in Primary Schools in
Duhok, Northern Iraq
16
Yalman, Onur Lami. "Ideology of sustainable architecture: A critique."
10
transported by multinationals in most cases and change in numerous parts of the globe with the
intention of saving on costs. The developed countries that adopt neoliberal economy.
Challenges of economic system
The prevailing economic system is pegged on pendulum like motion. Any decline in the demand
or even a crack would see the economic process revert back to the initial condition. As such
everything tends to be reversible in the current economic system. The basic trend, based on this
principle, is often a constant flow between consumption and production, not considering the
impacts of the external factors. If this economic model itself degrade nature, globalization shall
permit degradation acceleration17. Globalization seeks an increase in competitive advantages and
productivity offering better mass consumption conditions even though not precisely focusing on
meeting the actual needs. Still, such globalization fails to ensure natural system integrity and
auto-generation.
Such competitive advantages are due to a sophisticated transport besides fabrication logistics.
The capitalism render nature to have some market value attached to it. As such nature may be
bought and the owner use it in meeting any needs he deems fit for him using the natural
resources found within his territory. In theory, as individual pursue profit, higher quantity of
money would translate to higher levels of satisfaction of individual needs. The USA, for
instance, has almost 30% of the global cars and there are more particular cars today in
comparison with driving licenses18.
Wealth results in more consumption which in turn lead to higher production of materials and
hence the need for more extraction of natural resources from nature. Marketing promotes high
17
Radaei, Mahshid. "Develop a Conceptual Model of the Principles and Criteria of Green Architecture Based on the
Evolution of Environmental Thinking."
18
Wheeler, Andrea. "Non-Stop to The Moon? Earthships and Spaceships."
11
consumption and dictates to the consumes to meet their needs with the newly extracted and
manufactured products that they in most cases never need. All this consumption leads to an
increase in the ecological footprint19. The planet as things stand does not even have enough
satisfy the needs of all human beings; there would be need to have about 5 planets to meet and
sustain the human occidental way of life.
Unlocking sustainable architecture
In as much as the presented illustrations have been selected for demonstrating the deficiencies of
what is claimed to be sustainable design and architecture alongside other less challenging
illustrations could have been selected, an assertion is made that the challenges manifested are not
specific to the listed cases only. Three major concern areas have been noted:
Policies and regulations that are due to uncritical accretion as opposed to rigorous
thinking of the basics
Erroneous assumptions that it is possible to achieve sustainability through add-on
technologies, displayed symbolically20
The aesthetic agenda which is so much embedded into architectural sensibilities and
which serve to push sustainability issues to one side or depicts the same with regard to
the built form as an image
Prior to the IV CIAM Congress, numerous and great achievements had been attained with regard
to social equity, urbanism, environment and economy among others. The cities, during the period
which is mainly linked with great philanthropy and development, grew with utmost respect for
places and human beings, with the integration of private interests. When this balance was lost
19
Crucq, A. K. C., and J. Warda. "Sustainable architecture: meditations on new repertoires of forms."
20
Campbell, Alex. "Sustainability Taking Flight."
12
through offering excess significance to private interests, the planet seemed to have been turned
upside down21.
The system requires resetting if there are intentions to have the world produce habitable places
and accord the ecosystem the respect it deserves. New personnel, gurus or even inventors of new
solutions are not needed for any non-existent problems. Instead, only the existing problems need
to be solved and addressed using the criterion that already has proved their value. Placing man
and respect for nature as well as the planet at the focal point of the solution process presents a
necessity. Any of parameters cannot be excluded when attempting to achieve sustainable urban
development.
To solve the already existing problems, architecture has to be identified as a mean of creation of
sustainability. This is present as a substitute for sustainable architecture. This is due to the fact
that it is just by subsumption of architecture to sustainability production meaning changing the
prevailing situation where sustainability has been subsumed to architecture, that the type of shift
which can result in substantial changes can take place22. The kinds of concerns for instance
remade or unmade designer would seek answers to when beginning a project would include:
What needs to be sustained by the intended built form?
This concern opens up concerns of the types of activities a built form would be supporting for
instance sporting facilities would support spectatorship, performance and setting up screens. The
question as well opens up to the way the design of the built form may align the users towards
21
Umar, Muhammad Zakaria, Muhammad Arsyad, Santi Santi, and Arman Faslih. "Principles Of Sustainable
Architecture In The Production Of Bamboo Woven Wall Materials (Dendrocalamus Asper)."
22
li, Dauda, and Shitufa Hamidu. "Green Architecture: Pathway to Sustainability In The Built Environment
13
specific behavior modes, energy use. Resource use and habits among others23. To effective
respond to this question, a designer needs some elevation and description.
Is sustainability being achieved in what is meant to be sustainable?
This question tends to be more challenging since it calls for making judgement. The answer as to
whether what is intended to be sustained is in the actual sense sustainable will in most cases be
either partly yes or completely no. This is not any unique as the fundamentally premises of the
telos of the last twenty years of economic progress.
With the negative response, the integral thing is to agree and acknowledge how unsustainable the
project is and then grasp that continuing with the project in its current status would serve to
worsen the situation, sustaining the unsustainable, while at best, conducting an impact mitigation
undertaking that is permissible24. It is nevertheless not permissible that impact mitigation be
deemed to be sustainable design. Claiming extravagantly that minor reduction measures amount
to substantial green achievements is just but likely to ignite cynicism among the design team and
finally result in public incredulity. If a project is, on the other hand, judged to be just partially
sustainable, the design focus need to be towards attempting to enhance the nascent sustainable
components of the undertaking.
Linking a built form with what is to be sustained entails shifting the focus of the design from a
building as a finished product to a process or even processes integrating what is being housed as
well as supported and the way it will relate with the other processes. This will make it be seen as
an intersection node of flows of materials, services, people or even information alongside other
23
Daugelaite, Aurelija, and Indre Grazuleviciute-Vileniske. "The Relationship between Ethics and Aesthetics in
Sustainable Architecture of the Baltic Sea Region."
24
Iranfar, Maryam, and Hourakhsh Ahmad Nia. "The Aesthetic Evaluation in Sustainable Architecture through
Ethics to reach Well-being: Maslow’s Hierarchy as a Tool."
14
living things25. Sustainability itself as well needs to be perceived in terms of a process, as the
capability of sustaining what sustains, at that overarching the link between biophysical,
sociocultural, made materiality and symbolic.
Treating sustainability as a process as opposed to a fixed property or even an endpoint as well
insinuates looking at it as an ability of changing with changing circumstances. It defines
detaining a sense of what should be conserved, what is worth sustaining and what is not.
Sustainability entails continuity, active meaning movement. It can nevertheless mean conserving
for the future- conservation of water supplies26.
Conclusion
It is noted in this analysis that material and energy resources are among the resources recording
higher rates of exploitation in the construction industry. Aggregates are a major use material
resources in building construction and are often encountered easily even though metals tend to be
more concentrated. The manufacture and construction of these products result in the production
of wastes besides transportation releasing carbon dioxide and might result into pollution. The
earth tends to be a finite system and as such the economic system is pegged on perpetual growth
in the finite system. There is need for more policies and standards for reducing the environmental
effects of construction and the construction industry.
Recycling and materials reuse presents one of the ways of preservation of material resources and
reducing the levels of wastage. Reuse of old materials presents ones of the best options as energy
is saved and due to the fact that it increases the lifecycle of the material. Recycling needs more
energy in comparison with reuse as recycling adopts industrial processes for transformation of
25
Middleton, Luke. "Mainstreaming Real Sustainability in Architecture."
26
Armstrong, Rachel. "Towards the microbial home: An overview of developments in next‐generation sustainable
architecture."
15
the aged materials into new materials. Materials including concrete and masonry nevertheless do
not have recycles and instead down cycles as such it is impossible to remanufacture such
products.
This same principle is applicable to compound materials owing to the challenge of maintaining
high quality in distinct layers. Such materials do not serve as industrial or biological nutrients.
Human population is project to grow in the future and as such a rise in the demand for energy,
housing and materials. The demand for resources will as well rise assuming the parameters used
today are maintained. Most of the buildings deemed sustainable are constructed from virgin
materials and to a great extent nearly the same materials as the conventional buildings. As such
the architecture made in the current construction industry falls short of meeting the standards of
sustainability. The large volumes of resources consumed and wastes generated are perfect
illustrations of unsustainability.
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